Old-timers, Fsl Stars In Spotlight

Koufax, Feller, Lopez Highlight 25th All-star Game In Kissimmee

June 28, 1986|By Frank Carroll of The Sentinel Staff

KISSIMMEE — Tonight's 25th Florida State League All-Star Game at Osceola County Stadium at 7 shows off a Class A minor-league system that is designed to groom talent for future major-league stardom. That's the FSL's intent.

But the gate attraction is 41 former major-league players -- including Hall of Famers Sandy Koufax, Al Lopez and Bob Feller -- who will play in an Old- Timers game at 5 p.m.

Koufax, a last-minute substitution, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971 after 12 seasons with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers.

In his final six years (1961-66), Koufax, who won three Cy Young Awards and was the National League strikeout king four times, had a 129-47 record.

He also pitched four no-hitters and won the earned-run average title five times.

Feller, who won 266 games and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1962, pitched three no-hitters and a record 12 one-hitters during an 18-year career with Cleveland.

Lopez, voted into the Hall of Fame in 1977, holds the major-league record for most games as a catcher (1,918) during his 19 seasons with Brooklyn, Boston Braves, Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

He also spent 17 years as a manager and won pennants for Cleveland in 1954 and the Chicago White Sox in 1959.

Tampa Manager Marc Bombard will manage the NL team, replacing Dave Bialas, who has moved up to with manage Louisville of the Class AAA American Association. Alou, manager at West Palm Beach, will serve as Bombard's coach. Winter Haven Manager Dave Holt will handle the AL squad, assisted by Max Oliveras of Miami.